Contrary to popular belief, dogs and cats do produce sweat. While humans have sweat glands all over our bodies, our pets have much less sweat glands located in only a few areas due to the differing methods their bodies naturally regulate temperature. Below we explain the specific ways our dogs and cats sweat and what we can do to help keep our pets cool during hot summer days.

Do Dogs Sweat? Explaining How Dogs Regulate Body Temperature

Dogs may have sweat glands, however, unlike humans this is not a very effective way for dogs to cool themselves. Dogs have two types of sweat glands, being:

• Merocrine Sweat Glands: Glands found in the paws pads to help regulate body temperature.
• Apocrine Sweat Glands: Glands found throughout the body. These sweat glands don’t help cool the dog, instead, they produce pheromones to help communicate with other dogs.

Dog’s primarily pant to cool themselves off. During this process, canines will rapidly inhale and exhale in a repetitive movement which causes the moisture in their airways to evaporate, leading to a cooling affect in their overall body temperature. Another way dogs cool off is through a process called vasodilation, or the expansion of blood vessels. When blood vessels dilate, warm blood is moved closer to the surface (primarily in the face and ears) where it can easily drop in temperature.

While many people believe that their dogs must be hot under all that fur, their coats actually help keep them cool on sunny days. For most dogs it’s not recommended to shave their coat due to the fact that fur slows the transfer of heat from hot weather to the body. Canines are prone to heatstroke, so if you notice your dog excessively panting, showing red gums, or vomiting in the heat, it’s important to contact your veterinarian immediately.

Do Cats Sweat? Explaining How Cats Regulate Body Temperature

All felines are descendants from desert dwellers, which can explain why your housecat is basically magnetized to any sunspot that may appear throughout your house. While cats have sweat glands on their paw pads, nose, and lips, they’ve evolutionarily developed other more efficient ways to cool down, such as:

• Panting
• Self-Grooming
• Drooling
• Sleeping in the Shade

Cats generally nap through the hottest times of the day and practice limiting their activity to keep cool. Feline’s fur has also not only evolved to keep them warm during the winter, but it also protects their skin from the sun and slows dehydration during hot days. It’s highly advised not to shave your cat in the summer as their undercoat automatically sheds during warmer seasons.

Cat’s have a natural body temperature ranging between 100* F and 102.5* F, showing that they enjoy moderately warmer heat than humans, although a good rule generally is that they’re hot if you’re too hot. To keep your cat cool it’s important to always have fresh water available, keep the indoor temperature cool, and never leave your cat in a hot car. If your cat is excessively panting or behaving sluggishly, contact your veterinarian right away.

Ensure Optimum Health for Your Canine & Feline 

Making sure our pets are getting the proper health ingredients will improve their bodies natural methods to regulate body temperature. Dr. Bill’s Ultimate Fitness & Health products are specifically formulated to help our pets during life’s most stressful periods such as weaning, growth, training, performance, reproduction, lactation, and boarding. Dr. Bill’s Ultimate Fitness & Health provides proactive nutritional support for:

• Active Weight Control
• Eye, Heart, & Brain Health
• Performance Enhancement
• Endurance & Stamina
• Muscle Tone & Strength

Achieve complete daily wellness with Dr. Bill’s Ultimate Fitness & Health, which provides improved health and longevity, is biologically appropriate, and is made from natural ingredients to help your canine and feline friends live longer, healthier lives.